Clasp



United States Patent CLASP Sylvester Owens, La Puente, Calif.

Application September 12, 1957, Serial No. 683,632

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-217) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in clasps for use in the jewelry, electrical and other fields, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which may be expeditiously fastened and unfastened.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a clasp or connector of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of a clamp constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the slidable male unit;

Figure 3 is a View in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the device in locked position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the first step to be taken when unfastening the device;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the last step taken when unfastening the device; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a female member of metal or other suitable material which is designated generally by reference character 7. The female member 7 includes an elongated socket 8 of rectangular cross-section which is open at one end and closed at its other end, as at 9. The side walls 10 of the socket 8 have formed therein elongated openings 11. The openings llaccommodate resilient, inturned latches 12 which are integral with the side walls 10 of the socket 8. The bottom 13 of the socket 8 comprises an extension 14 at the closed end 9 of said socket.

The female member 7 is for the reception of a male member 15. The male member 15 comprises a bar 16 of suitable material which is slidably inserted in the socket 8. The bar 16 is also of rectangular cross-section and the sides 17 thereof have formed in their forward end portions longitudinally elongated recesses or notches 18 providing a T-head 19 on the forward end of said bar.

Patented Sept. 8, 1959 The forward end portion of the bar 16 is further provided with a longitudinal slot 20 which communicates with the recesses or notches 18.

Mounted for limited reciprocation in the slot 20 is a cam or slide 21 of suitable material. The slide 21 is substantially I-shaped and the flanges 22 thereof are slidable in the recesses or notches 18 in the bar 16.

It is thought that the operation of the clasp or connector will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the bar 16 is inserted in the socket 8 the resilient latches 12 ride over the ends of the head 19 and drop therebehind thus positively anchoring said bar in said socket. To separate the members 7 and 15, the bar 16 is pushed forwardly in the socket 8, said bar carrying with it the cam or slide 21 which opens or spreads the latches 12. This is shown to advantage in Figure 5 of the drawing. With the slide 21 clamped between the resilient latches 12 the bar 16 is reversed or moved rearwardly in socket 8. The slide 21 holds the latches 12 in open or spread position until said slide engages the head 19 which said latches now ride over and permit the withdrawal of the bar 16 from the socket 8.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A clasp of the character described comprising: a female member including a socket, a male member comprising a bar insertable in the socket and slidable forwardly therein, a head on one end of the bar, said bar having a longitudinal slot therein immediately adjacent the head and further having longitudinal recesses therein at both ends of said slot, being immediately adjacent the head and communicating with the slot, resilient latches on the socket engageable in said recesses behind the head for releasably anchoring the bar in said socket, and a slide operable in the slot and recesses consisting of a middle portion disposed in said slot and having end flanges which are disposed in said recesses so that the outside surfaces of the said bend and slide are flush, said slide having a shorter length than said slot and recesses, said slide being engageable with the latches in response to forward sliding of said bar for disengaging said latches from the head and recesses for permitting withdrawal of the bar from the socket by allowing the latch to slide over the flush slide and head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 83,403 Nickerson Oct. 27, 1868 968,036 Erickson Aug. 23, 1910 2,442,398 Chandler June 1, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 30,601 Norway Apr. 6, 1920 

